Bio
Jack Crider spent 22 years from 1969-1992 at the helm of the Highlander wrestling program accumulating a 255-59-2 dual meet record. As a coach, he had 29 NJCAA All-Americans and 2 NJCAA National Championship wrestlers. His accomplishments span even more than his career in junior college athletics as he was named to the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame, Missouri Wrestling Hall of Fame, and NCAA Volunteer Wrestling Hall of Fame. Crider volunteered numerous times at the NCAA DI Wrestling Championships held in St. Louis, MO.
Every year was a battle for dominance in Region 16 with St. Louis Community College Forest Park and St. Louis Community College Meramec. Crider led the Highlanders to 9 Region16 /District Championships. He also was a long time host for the St. Louis Intercollegiate Open Tournament held at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park annually.
The loss of the wrestling program at Forest Park was like so many others across the country. Despite having great success, gender equity at the time was being enforced at a higher degree and many of the wrestling programs were the first to be cut.